The Indus Delta, where the mighty Indus River meets the Arabian Sea, is rapidly shrinking. Communities in southern Pakistan are being forced to leave as seawater invades the land, destroying agriculture and marine life.
In the town of Kharo Chhan, villages once alive with fishing and farming are now silent. The population has dropped sharply, from 26,000 in 1981 to just 11,000 in 2023. Rising salinity and vanishing freshwater have left homes abandoned and fields barren.
Experts say the Indus Delta shrinkage has been caused by an 80% drop in river flow since the 1950s. This is due to upstream dams, irrigation canals, and the effects of climate change on glacial melt. Saltwater has replaced freshwater, making farming nearly impossible and damaging shrimp and crab habitats.
As a result, over 1.2 million people have been displaced from the delta over the past 20 years. Many have moved to Karachi, swelling the population of Pakistan’s largest city.
Local fisherman Habibullah Khatti, 54, is one of the many forced to leave. “The saline water has surrounded us from all four sides,” he said, mourning the loss of his community and culture.
In Keti Bandar, salt covers the soil and villagers rely on boats to bring clean water. According to studies, more than 16% of once-fertile land in the region has become unproductive.
The Indus Delta once thrived with mangroves, wildlife, and fertile lands. Now it is both sinking and shrinking, say conservationists.
To reverse the damage, Pakistan launched the Living Indus Initiative with the UN in 2021. Efforts include soil restoration and mangrove planting. However, land development and illegal clearings continue to damage the fragile delta environment.
Adding to the threat, India has revoked a long-standing water treaty and plans new dams upstream. Experts warn this may further reduce water flow to Pakistan and worsen the crisis.
For many, leaving the delta means more than losing a home; it means losing a way of life.
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